Pivotal leg assembly

ABSTRACT

A pivoting leg assembly ( 10 ) for a sawhorse, the leg assembly comprising: a pair of pivotally movable leg members ( 40 ), said leg members movable between a storage position and operative position; a mounting body ( 50 ) for mounting said pair of leg members said mounting body including a bridging member ( 70 ), a first support portion ( 80 ) having two first arms ( 82 ), and a second support portion ( 90 ) having two second arms ( 92 ); said bridging member extending between said two first arms; said second arms located within said first arms to form a gap between each respective first arm and second arm; wherein each leg member is pivotally mounted to at least one of said arms and sandwiched between a respective first arm and second arm within the gap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to a pivotal leg assembly for use on asawhorse. Accordingly, the invention will be described in this context.However, it should be appreciated that the pivotal leg assembly may beused on other articles, such as tables, chairs, benches or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Sawhorses are a common tool that is found on a building site. Astandard sawhorse typically has a cross member with a pair of legs thatis fixed to each end of the cross member. A brace often extends betweeneach pair of legs to provide additional reinforcement to the legs. Whena load is placed on the cross member, the brace prevents the legssplaying.

[0003] Sawhorses are usually needed to be transported to and fromdifferent building sites and taken home each night by their owner. Theyare normally transported using a vehicle. An inherent problem withstandard sawhorses is that they take up considerable space when placedwithin a vehicle. Standard sawhorses cannot be efficiently stacked ontop of each other to reduce space. They are not very stable when placedin a normal operating position within the vehicle, as they often fallover or out of a vehicle when the vehicle travels around a corner.

[0004] In an attempt to overcome some of the above disadvantages,collapsable sawhorses have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No.4,296,834 discloses a sawhorse that has a pair of legs located at eachend of a cross member. Each pair of legs is able to be pivoted towardeach other so that they fold underneath the cross member. However, thelegs are splayed after they are pivoted, causing the sawhorse to occupya considerable amount of space. Further, each pair of legs has a bracethat prevents sawhorses from being stacked on top of each other.

[0005] The sawhorses disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,880,080, 4,298,904and 4,771,863 have similar stacking problems as they all have braces.Further, the exemplified collapsible sawhorses are relatively complex tomanufacture.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,517 discloses a cross member comprising atrapezoid core to which is attached two pair of legs. The legs arepivotal and are able to move adjacent the cross member when in a storageposition. However, as the legs have no brace, then the legs may becomesplayed. Further, the trapezoid core prevents the sawhorse from beingable to be staked.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the invention to overcome or at leastalleviate one or more of the above disadvantages or provide the consumerwith a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, in one form, though it need not be the broadest oronly form, the invention resides in a pivoting leg assembly for asawhorse, the leg assembly comprising:

[0009] a pair of pivotally movable leg members, said leg members movablebetween a storage position and operative position; and

[0010] a mounting body for mounting said pair of leg members, saidmounting body including a bridging member, a first support portionhaving two first arms and a second support portion having two secondarms;

[0011] said bridging member extending between said two first arms;

[0012] said second arms located within said first arms to form a gapbetween each respective first arm and second arm;

[0013] wherein each leg member is pivotally mounted to at least one ofsaid arms and sandwiched between a respective first arm and second armwithin the gap.

[0014] The leg members may be legs. Alternately, the leg members may beconnected to legs.

[0015] The bridging member, first support portion and/or second supportportion may be integrally formed. Preferably, the bridging member, firstsupport portion and second support portion are separate units.

[0016] The bridging member may be attached to the first support portion.The bridging member may comprise a bridging web having two forwardextending plates. Alternately, the bridging member may comprise abridging plate.

[0017] The first support portion may be a first support bracket. Thefirst support bracket may include a first web having two first dependingside plates. The first arms may be the first depending side plates.

[0018] The second support portion may be a second support bracket. Thesecond support bracket may include a second web having two seconddepending side plates. The second arms may be the second depending sideplates.

[0019] Preferably, each leg member is pivotally mounted to both of saidarms.

[0020] Preferably, each leg member abuts both of said arm members.

[0021] Preferably, the width of the gap is commensurate in size with thewidth of the leg member.

[0022] The pivotal leg assembly may include a locking mechanism to lockthe leg members in at least the operative position.

[0023] The locking mechanism may include engagement member to engage theleg. The engagement member may be a pin, tab, clasp or like member.

[0024] The locking mechanism may be attached to the bridging member.

[0025] In another form, the invention resides in a sawhorse comprising across member attached to the two pivotal leg assemblies describedherein.

[0026] Preferably, each pair of legs are pivotally mounted to differentpoints on respective pivotal leg assemblies.

[0027] The cross member may have a top surface with two depending sidesurfaces. The cross member may have at least one slot located in its topsurface. The cross member may be a channel, beam or like member.

[0028] Each pivotal leg assembly may include a locking mechanism to lockthe leg members in at least the operative position.

[0029] The locking mechanism may be operated from an end of thesawhorse.

[0030] In yet another form, the invention resides in a trestlecomprising at least one board or plank attached to two sawhorses asdescribed previously.

[0031] Preferably, each sawhorse has at least one slot located in thecross member to attach the board.

[0032] Preferably, a plug is positioned within the slot to join theboard or plank to the sawhorse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sawhorse according to a firstembodiment of the invention.

[0034]FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a cross member.

[0035]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the sawhorse of FIG. 1.

[0036]FIG. 3 is an end view of the sawhorse of FIG. 1.

[0037]FIG. 4 is a side view of the sawhorse of FIG. 1.

[0038]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting body andlocking mechanism of FIG. 1.

[0039]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a board attaching two sawhorsestogether.

[0040]FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-section view of the board attached toa sawhorse cross member.

[0041]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the board attached to the sawhorsecross member shown in FIG. 7.

[0042]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sawhorse according to a secondembodiment of the invention.

[0043]FIG. 10 is an end view of the sawhorse of FIG. 9.

[0044]FIG. 11 is a side view of the sawhorse of FIG. 9.

[0045]FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting body andlocking mechanism of the sawhorse of FIG. 9.

[0046]FIG. 13 is side view of the locking mechanism for the sawhorse ofFIG. 1.

[0047]FIG. 14 is a side view of the locking mechanism for the sawhorseof FIG. 2.

[0048]FIG. 15 is a side view of an alternate locking mechanism.

[0049]FIG. 16 is a side view of another alternate locking mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0050] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a sawhorse 10 comprising two pivotal legassemblies 20 attached to a cross member 30. The cross member 30 is ahollow channel section having a top stay 31 with two depending sidestays 32. The cross member is made from laminated wood and has two slots33 located in the top stay 31. A pair of holes 34 are located at eachend of the top stay 31. On each side stay 32, there is an upper hole 35and a lower hole 36.

[0051] Each pivotal leg assembly 20 includes a pair of legs 40, amounting body 50 and a locking mechanism 60. The legs 40 are tubular andrectangular when view in transverse cross-section. They are made fromsteel or other suitable materials. A hole 41 is located through an endof the leg to pivotally mount the leg.

[0052] The mounting body 50 includes a bridging member 70, first supportbracket 80 and second support bracket 90 as shown in FIG. 5. Thebridging member 70, first support bracket 80 and second support bracket90 are all constructed of high grade steel plate or other suitable highstrength material.

[0053] The first support bracket 80 includes a first web 81 having twofirst depending side plates 82. Holes 83 and 84 are located within thefirst web and each first side plate. A first flange 85 extends outwardlyfrom each first side plate.

[0054] The second bracket 90 includes a second web 91 having twodepending second side plates 92. Holes are located within the second web91 and each second side plate 92. A second flange 95 extends outwardlyfrom each second side plate 92.

[0055] The bridging member includes a bridging web 71 having two forwardextending plates 72. Holes 73 are located within the forward extendingplates. Holes 74 are located within the bridge web of each forward plate72.

[0056] The locking mechanism 60 includes lock body 61, two locking pins62, a handle 63, two bushes 64 and two springs 65.

[0057] The sawhorse 10 is assembled by attaching the lock body 61 to thebridging web 71 by placing fasteners 21 through holes 66 and 74 locatedin both the lock body 61 and bridging web 71. The locking mechanism isthen completed by positioning the springs 65 and bushes 64 withinrespective holes 67 located in the lock body 61. The handle 63 is fixedto the ends of the locking pins 62. The springs 65 are attached torespective locking pins 62 so that the locking pins 62 are able to bereciprocated within the lock body 61 and biased so that the handle 63abuts against the lock body 61.

[0058] The mounting body 50 is formed by placing the forward plates 72of the bridging member 70 over the first side plates 82 of the firstbracket 80 so that respective holes 84 of the first side plates 82 arein alignment with respective holes 73 of the forward plates 72. Thesecond web 91 of the second support bracket 90 is positioned against thefirst web 81 of the first bracket so that the holes 83 and 93 locatedwithin each web 81 and 91 are in alignment. This causes the secondflange 95 to abut and support the lock body 61.

[0059] The bridging member 70, first support bracket 80 and secondsupport bracket 90 are then placed within the cross member 30 so thatthe holes 83 and 93 located within respective webs 81 and 91 alignwithin the holes 34 located within the top stay 31 of the cross member30. The flanges 85 and 95 of the respective brackets 80 and 90 bearagainst the side stays 32 and 33. Bolts 22 are then passed through theholes located within the cross member, first web 81 and second web 82and fastened with respective nuts 23.

[0060] A gap 24 is formed between each adjacent first side plate 82 andsecond side plate 92. The legs 40 are placed within the respective gaps24. The respective side plates 82 and 83 are spaced such that the gaps24 are commensurate with the width of the legs 40 so that the sideplates 82 and 83 abut against the legs 40.

[0061] Bolts 25 are then placed through the side stays 32, the firstside plates 82, legs 40 and the second side plate 92. Nuts 26 are thenlocated on the bolts 25 to fasten the cross member 30, first supportbracket 80, legs 40 and second support bracket 90 together.

[0062] The holes 41 in the pair of legs 40 located at one end of thesawhorse 10 is positioned higher than in the pair of legs located at theopposite end of the sawhorse. The upper holes 35 located in the sidestays 32 and an upper hole 84 located in side plates 82 and 92 isutilised at one end of the cross member whilst the lower holes 36 in theside stays 32 and lower holes in the side plates 82 and 92 are utilisedat the opposite end of the cross member.

[0063] Each leg 40 is movable between an operative position where thelegs 40 engage a ground surface and a storage position where the legs 40are located substantially within the cross member 30. As one pair oflegs 40 is pivotally mounted at a lower position than that of the otherpair of legs 40, this allows both pairs of legs 40 to be locatedadjacent each other when in the storage position as shown in phantom inFIG. 4.

[0064] When the pair of legs 40 are moved from the storage position tothe operative position, they engage the locking pins 62. The locking pin62 is depressed by the leg 40 until the locking pin 62 comes intoalignment with a hole 42 located in a side of the leg 40. The lockingpin 62 is then biased into the hole 42 to lock the leg 40 in theoperative position.

[0065] When the pair of legs are to be moved from the operative positionto the storage position, the handle 63 is pulled away from the lock body61 from an end of the cross member 30 to release the locking pins 62from the holes 42 in the legs 40. This allows the legs 40 to be rotatedto the storage position. The legs maintain the storage position due tothe friction force that is applied by the respective nuts 26 and bolts25.

[0066] It should be appreciated that in this embodiment, the firstbracket 70 may not be necessary, as the channel section of the crossmember enables the side stays 32 to perform the same function. The crossmember is suitably composed of shaped plywood. Alternatively, the crossmember may be fabricated from an engineered plastic or constructed fromtimber sections as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0067]FIG. 6 shows two sawhorses 10 that can be secured to each otherusing a board or plank 11 and the slots 33 provided with the top stay ofthe cross member to form a trestle 12.

[0068] A plug 13 is used to attach the board 11 to the cross member 30as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The plug 13 is optionally constructed from aresilient plastics material that can be deformed to locate the plug 13within one of the slots 33 located in the top stay 31. A bolt 14 is thenpassed through the board 11 and through the plug 13. A nut 15 isattached to the bolt 14 to secure the plug 13 and the board 11 together.

[0069] Sawhorses 10 can be joined together by one or more boards 11 toprovide a platform for a user to access an elevated position.Alternately, boards 11 can be joined together to provide a work surfacefor activities, such as sawing. A workhorse may be constructed using thesawhorses 10 and boards 11 to them.

[0070] FIGS. 9 to 12 show a second embodiment of a sawhorse 110. Thesawhorse 110 again comprises a two pivotal leg assemblies 120 attachedto a cross member 130. The cross member in this embodiment is a solidbeam having tapered edges 131 located at the sides of each end. Holes132 are located at each end of the cross member.

[0071] Each leg assembly includes a pair of legs 140, a mounting body150 and a locking mechanism 160. The legs are as described previously,except that the hole located within each leg in this embodiment is anelongate hole 141 as depicted in FIG. 11.

[0072] The mounting body 150 includes a first support bracket 180,second support bracket 190, abutment members 200 and cover bracket 210,as shown in FIG. 12. The first bracket 180, second bracket 190 and coverbracket 210 are all constructed of high grade steel plate or othersuitable high strength material.

[0073] The first bracket 180 includes a first web 181 having two firstdepending side plates 182 and a first bridging plate 183. Holes 184, 185and 186 are located within the first web 181, each first side plate 182and the bridging plate 183. Slots 187 are also located within the firstbridging is plate 183. A first flange 188 extends outwardly from eachfirst side plate 182 with holes 189 located therethrough.

[0074] The second bracket 190 includes a second web 191 having twosecond depending side plates 192 and a second bridging plate 193. Holes194, 195 and 196 are located within the second web 191, each second sideplate 192 and bridging plate 193.

[0075] Each abutment member 200 includes an abutment plate 201 andattachment plate 202. Holes 203 are located through the attachmentplate. The abutment member 200 is constructed from plastic.

[0076] The cover bracket 210 has a cover web 211 with two depending sidecover plates 212. Holes 214 are located in the cover web 211. A coverflange 218 is attached to the side cover plates 212. Holes 219 arelocated through the cover flanges 218.

[0077] The locking mechanism 160 includes a locking bracket 161 that hasa face plate 162 attached to a base plate 163. Tabs 164 are located attwo edges of the face plate 162. An engagement projection 165 is locatedon each tab 164. Locking flanges 165 are located on opposing edges ofthe base plate 163. Holes 167 and 168 are located in the face plate 162and flanges 166.

[0078] The sawhorse 10 is constructed by placing the tabs 164 of thelocking bracket 161 through the slots 187 in the first bridging plate183 so that the holes 167 and 186 in the face plate 162 and firstbridging plate 183 are in alignment. The second bracket 190 is placedwithin the first support bracket so that the holes 194 and 184, locatedin the second bridging plate 193 and first bridging plate 183, are inalignment. Fasteners (not shown) are then placed through the alignedholes 184 and 194. Gaps 124 are formed between the respective sideplates 182 and 192.

[0079] The abutment members 200 are then located on respective flanges188 of the first support bracket 180 so that the holes 203 within theattachment plate 202 are in alignment with holes 185 within the firstside plates 182. Legs 140 are placed within the gaps 124 and a bolt 125is passed through each attachment plate 201, first side plate 182, leg140 and second side plate 192. A nut 126 is attached to the end of eachbolt 125 and tightened as depicted in FIG. 10.

[0080] A spring 142 is attached inside each leg 140 and each bolt 125 asshown in FIG. 11. The cover bracket 210 is located on the first flange188 and locking flange 218 so that holes 186, 196 and 216 located withinthe first web, second web and cover web are in alignment. Bolts 122 arelocated through the first web 181, second web 191, cover web and crossmember 130. Bolts are also located through first flanges 188 and coverflanges 218, and locking flanges 165 and cover flange 218. Correspondingnuts 123 and 128 are located on the bolts.

[0081] Each pair of legs 140 is pivotally mounted to a different pointon each of the pivotal leg assemblies 120. Each leg is movable betweenan operative position where the legs 140 engage a ground surface and astorage position where the legs are located substantially adjacent thecross member 130. As one pair of legs 140 is pivotally mounted at alower position than that of the other pair of legs, this allows bothpairs of legs to be located adjacent each other when in the storageposition.

[0082] When the pair of legs 140 are moved from the storage position tothe operative position, they engage the engagement projection 165. Theleg is then pulled away from the cross member 130 to allow theengagement projection 165 to enter a slot 143 located within each leg140. The leg 140 is then released so that the projection locks the leg140 in the operative position.

[0083] When the leg 140 is to be moved to the storage position, the leg140 is pulled away from the cross member 130 and rotated away from theengagement projection 165 to the storage position. The leg 140fictionally engages with the abutment plate 202 to hold the leg 140 inthe storage position.

[0084]FIGS. 13 and 14 show further detail of the locking mechanisms asdescribed in first embodiment and second embodiment of the invention.

[0085]FIG. 15 shows that the locking pins 62 of FIG. 13 can be replacedwith clasps 362 that engage with slot 343 of the leg to hold the leg inthe operative position.

[0086]FIG. 16 shows that the tab 164 that engages with the slot 143 ofFIG. 14 can be replaced by a tongue 464 that engages with a recess 343on the leg that locks the leg in the operative position.

[0087] The sawhorse described above enables the legs to be pivoted to astorage position to allow effective stacking of the sawhorse. Thepivotal leg assembly prevents the leg splaying due to its constructionwhen the sawhorse is loaded.

[0088] It should be appreciated that various other changes andmodifications may be made to the embodiments described without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention.

1. A pivoting leg assembly for a sawhorse, the leg assembly comprising:a pair of pivotally movable leg members, said leg members movablebetween a storage position and operative position; a mounting body formounting said pair of leg members, said mounting body including abridging member, a first support portion having two first arms, and asecond support portion having two second arms; said bridging memberextending between said two first arms; said second arms located withinsaid first arms to form a gap between each respective first arm andsecond arm; wherein each leg member is pivotally mounted to at least oneof said arms and sandwiched between a respective first arm and secondarm within the gap.
 2. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 1, wherein thebridging member, first support portion and/or second support portion areintegrally formed.
 3. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 1, wherein thebridging member, first support portion and second support portion areseparate units.
 4. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 3, wherein thebridging member is attached to the first support portion.
 5. The pivotalleg assembly of claim 4, wherein the bridging member comprises abridging web having two forward extending plates.
 6. The pivotal legassembly of claim 4, wherein the bridging member comprises a bridgingplate.
 7. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 1, wherein the first supportportion is a first support bracket.
 8. The pivotal leg assembly of claim7, wherein the first support bracket comprises a first web having twofirst depending side plates.
 9. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 1,wherein the second support portion is a second support bracket.
 10. Thepivotal leg assembly of claim 9, wherein the second support bracketcomprises a second web having two second depending side plates.
 11. Thepivotal leg assembly of claim 1, wherein each leg member is pivotallymounted to both of said arms.
 12. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 1,wherein each leg member abuts both of said arm members.
 13. The pivotalleg assembly of claim 1, wherein the width of the gap is commensurate insize with the width of the leg member.
 14. The pivotal leg assembly ofclaim 1, including a locking mechanism to lock the leg members in atleast the operative position.
 15. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 14,wherein the locking mechanism may include an engagement member to engagethe leg.
 16. The pivotal leg assembly of claim 15, wherein theengagement member is a pin, tab, clasp or like member.
 17. The pivotalleg assembly of claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism is attached tothe bridging member.
 18. A sawhorse comprising a cross member attachedto two pivotal leg assemblies, each pivotal leg assembly comprising: apair of pivotally movable leg members, said leg members movable betweena storage position and operative position; and a mounting body formounting said pair of leg members, said mounting body including abridging member; a first support portion having two first arms and asecond support portion having two second arms; said bridging memberextending between said two first arms; said second arms located withinsaid first arms to form a gap between each respective first arm andsecond arm; wherein each leg member is pivotally mounted to at least oneof said arms and sandwiched between a respective first arm and secondarm within the gap.
 19. The sawhorse of claim 18, wherein each pair oflegs are pivotally mounted to different points on each of the pivotalleg assemblies.
 20. The sawhorse of claim 18, wherein the cross memberhas a top surface with two depending side surfaces.
 21. The sawhorse ofclaim 18, wherein at least one slot is located within the top surface.22. The sawhorse of claim 18, wherein the cross member is a channel. 23.The sawhorse of claim 18, wherein the cross member is a beam.
 24. Thesawhorse of claim 18, wherein each pivotal leg assembly includes alocking mechanism to lock the leg members in at least the operativeposition.
 25. The sawhorse of claim 18, wherein the cross member formsat least part of the first support portion.
 26. The sawhorse of claim23, wherein the locking mechanism is operated from an end of thesawhorse.
 27. A trestle comprising at least one board attached to twosawhorses, each sawhorse comprising a cross member attached to twopivotal leg assemblies, each pivotal leg assembly comprising: a pair ofpivotally movable leg members, said leg members movable between astorage position and operative position; and a mounting body formounting said pair of leg members, said mounting body including abridging member; a first support portion having two first arms and asecond support portion having two second arms; said bridging memberextending between said two first arms; said second arms located withinsaid first arms to form a gap between each respective first arm andsecond arm; wherein each leg member is pivotally mounted to at least oneof said arms and sandwiched between a respective first arm and secondarm within the gap.
 28. The trestle of claim 27, wherein the sawhorsehas at least one slot located in the cross member to attach the board.29. The trestle of claim 27, wherein a plug is positioned within theslot to join the board to the sawhorse.